Baking Day

Yep. I'm crazy. Officially.

Tomorrow is my birthday. So what do I spend today doing? Baking! Well, I've done a lot of ironing and washing too, but I've been baking.

Why? I hear you ask..

Well, because I'm HR at my workplace. On birthdays we're expected to buy everyone in our office cakes. I'd rather bake them. And I'd feel bad if anyone got left out - which means that because I work with EVERYONE in the company, I have to provide cakes for 68 members of staff.... silly me....


Yesterday I made a batch of Tiffin, today I have done a second one and have also made two Bakewell Tarts. And I'm about to make a couple of sponges..... Tomorrow, because I really AM nuts, I'm making a couple of Jamaica Ginger Cakes, and some Chocolate Coconut Cake. Doolally, me.

Two pictures of Tiffin...





and my Bakewell (the second one was in the oven when I took this!



We've been invited round to my brother's place for dinner tonight, so that will be nice!!! At least that means I won't have to cook......

What a weekend that was!

Well, for starters, Saturday night we went (well, DH went and I got dragged along for the ride) to see Girls Aloud perform live at the Bournemouth Internation Centre (BIC for short). All I can say is - they were OK. The sound was a bit crap, so Nicola and Kimberley sounded a bit like Minnie Mouse when they sang, and I would like to say YAY! to Sarah who proved she has as big and as good a voice as Nadine. Cheryl - you need to eat, love.

Sorry the pictures are a bit crap, but I only had my camera phone with me, but here are a few choice shots from the gig.... as you can see - they started out suspended on wires above the stage. Quite spectacular, but ultimately utterly pointless!







On Sunday we went over to Corfe Castle in Dorset, had a look around the castle, then went onto Worth Matravers and took a walk down to Winspit followed off by stopping at Swanage before driving home. The weather was fantastic, as these pictures show.








I'd also like to wish my late Dad a very happy birthday for today - bless you Dad.

Back from Carew - UPDATED

Back from a fantastic weekend with Wolfshead Bowmen, at Carew Castle near Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The weather was extremely kind to us - we always say that a good event is one where we both pitch and strike the camp in the dry...



This was our campsite at the foot of Carew castle. You can see the campfire (many an evening spent around this!) in the middle, and my tent is to the left - the green and white striped humbug.



My tent. It's a 15th Century Burgundian, made by a lovely company called Past Tents. Rough dimensions - 27' long, 13' wide by 9' tall, approx.



Close up of the campfire. Of the two men stood there, the one in the black and yellow sweatshirt is my brother, the one in the brown T-shirt is my DH...



Sunset on the 3rd May



Sunset on the 4th May



L-R, Helen, Becca, Pam, H, Tom & Pippa



Justin having a "moment" cos Katie is leaning on his head.... LOL

Fab Friday!

Hello again! Time for some more cards!

The cards below were all part of the April Challenge on Aunty's Forum (following on from my previous post!). We had to follow a sketch, and I did my very best, though it was hard work trying to keep within certain parameters....






Continuing on the same theme, I also made some Christmas Cards for my SSCC quota. My Xmas cards are about the only thing I'm keeping up with!

Here they are....









Until next time!

Cards

Well, I promised I'd be back to upload some pics, and here they are.

It's my niece's 21st birthday this week, and she's having a massive party. The theme for the party is Fairy Tales, and she's going as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Naturally, I just HAD to make her a card reflecting this - though it is really hard to "do Disney" and not end up with a kid's card.

Luckily I found this lovely picture on the web, and with the addition of the backing paper in a stylish gunmetal colour, I think I've suceeded in creating a grown up card for her....



Other cards today include these two for the April Challenge on Aunty's Forum. Now I've found my mojo, there will be a lot more, though I'm not going to blog them all!

The idea for this challenge was to follow a sketch to create your cards.

Relief all round

You may have noticed that I haven't blogged much lately. Aside from the fact that DH has been up in London and I've been making hay while the sun shines, a close friend of mine has been in hospital. They're out now, but it was an unnerving experience all round. Suffice it to say that I'm gradually coming back to earth, and I'm sure when I hit it properly, it's going to hurt, but such is life.

Luckily enough I'm one of those people that tends to bounce rather than break.

A HUGE thank you to my friends who have been most supportive during this tough time. Hopefully, normal service will resume presently, though I've a feeling this may well be the calm before the storm!

I have been doing some crafting - not a lot, cos my mind hasn't really been on it, but some nonetheless. I'll be back later today to upload some more pics....

TTFN!

What kind of flower am I?

Saw this on CraftyC's blog and had to try it....

I am a Canna What Flower Are You?

Apparently "You stand up for what you believe in, even if it gets in the way of what other people think. You are proud of yourself and your accomplishments and you enjoy letting people know that."

Sounds about right!

Snow and other stuff.

Well, it's now April. My word, hasn't time flown by????

So what's new in the land of Mort?

Well, another month has come and gone on Aunty's forum. I'm going to be really dull and boring here and say that anyone who wants to see what I created for the March Challenge will just have to go onto the forum, look in the Members Gallery under Team Zone, Fi's Fab Five, and see what I put in. Apart from this one...gotta put this one here...



Why this one in particular? It's one of my favourite works of art (next to The Accolade, by Edmund Blair Leighton), and is called "Meeting on the Turret Stairs". It's by Frederick William Burton, and I just love it. DH hates it. I love it. Wonder who is going to win the battle to get a large version and hang it somewhere in the house. Not least cos it's the only one my brother and SIL DON'T already have... Anyway, back to the point. The March challenge was all about the 7 Deadly Sins, and I put this card in as "Lust".

Other news - we've had snow! Fabulous, particularly this far south! This was the sight that greeted me this morning.



So I then got arty, really testing the camera for zoom and close up...LOL





and then we walked the dogs....




As far as pictures go, I think they came out well!

What else? Well, I haven't really been up to much. DH is still up in London doing his course - only 3 weeks left now! Time definitely HAS flown.

I've not done as much as I'd like to have, been lazy really, but I suppose I ought to finish this post off with another something I've made lately. So here are two birthday cards I made a wee while ago but forgot to blog. The recipients have had them by now, so it's safe to stick them on here (and I don't think I already have. If I have, pardon me for repeating myself!)



The coloured panels are made with shrinkable paper and luna lights inks. Just squidge the inks on, heat the paper with a heat gun and watch it curl and shrink, the inks drying as you go. The paper is the sort that AmEx and other companies used to make envelopes that are untearable. Once done, the panels are fixed to cards with sticky foam pads, and then brass charms of butterflies (or similar) are fixed onto the panels. A few toning brads and Bob's your uncle....

SSCC March

It's Rudolph Day!!!!

For those of us in the SSCC that means something...

So here are my Christmas Cards for this month. Yes, I lost my 4lbs. Yes I saved what I said I would. No, I haven't sparked up. Paperwork - well, it's ok, but not brilliant.









This time I've gone for a fresh and funky modern feel.....

Till next time!!!

Whoops......

Been a bit of a while once again since I was last on here!

DH (Darling Husband to you lot) has been in London for the last three weeks, only came back for one weekend and is currently in Taunton fitting a bathroom! He's got another 5 weeks in London, doing the practical part of his NVQ in plumbing. It's frustrating for him cos he's got all the experience and knowledge - just not the piece of paper that says he can do it. Ho hum.

Mum is here for Easter...I last saw her at Christmas, so it's nice to see her and talk, even if the things I've got to talk about aren't of the best subjects. Maybe more on that another time, if I ever get around to it.

Crafting wise, I've done precious little.

Say no more........